HOA Reserves

HOAleader.com provides practical advice on homeowner and condominium association management, laws, rules, insurance, finances, reserves, dues, liens, assessments, dispute resolution, and more.
Home \| Browse by Topic \| Discussion Forum \| Tell a Friend \| Text Size \| Search \| Member Log-in

Home | HOA Reserves

HOA Reserves

Back to main Topics page

4 Arguments to Combat Short-Term Owners' Resistance to Long-Term HOA Planning
October 2011
It's an all-too-common problem at HOAs: Owners who don't plan to stick around for more than a few years will resist or oppose repairs, improvements, and reserve funding that benefits later owners. What's the best argument for showing short-termers that they're harming their own financial interest? . . . keep reading

Definition: HOA Reserve Study
"A reserve study is a study made of all the major capital systems in the association," explains Robert Galvin, a partner at Davis, Malm & . . . keep reading

Helping Owners Fund a Special Assessment
June 2010
Here, we hear how condominium and homeowner association boards crafted creative financing that helped them pass a special assessments and offer tips for funding your own special assessment. . . . keep reading

Looking to Your Reserves When Your Homeowners Association Needs a Loan
March 12, 2010
Not enough funds in your operating account to pay the insurance premium due next quarter because a number of your homeowners are behind in assessments? This week's tip offers a possible solution for boards that have a short-term cash crunch: borrowing from reserves. . . . keep reading

HOA Finances: If Your Condo or Homeowners Association Needs a Loan, Can You Look to Your Reserves?
March 2010
If your HOA is short on cash for an insurance payment or would like to make an equipment purchase, can you borrow against that large chunk of money in your reserve fund? Would that even be wise? Here we discuss whether taking a loan from your condo or homeowner association reserves is proper or advisable. . . . keep reading

HOA Finances: Tips for Handling Your Reserve Account
March 2010
Are you putting enough money aside to pay to replace or repair your HOA's buildings and amenities? Is it possible your condo or homeowner association is putting too much aside? Does the HOA board know how reserves are supposed to be used? This article provides tips on how much to save and how to properly use association reserve accounts. . . . keep reading

What Financial Information Must Your Association Disclose to Prospective Homeowners?
December 2009
One of your members has put her unit up for sale. She gets an offer and accepts it. You then get a request for all kinds of home owners association records from the buyer. What's your response? What must your association provide when prospective homeowners ask for your association's governing documents? What about your financial documents and minutes? What if the buyer asks the number of delinquent owners and the amount of the delinquencies? The answer to those questions depends on your state's law and your internal practices. Some states have rules requiring associations to provide extensive detail to potential buyers. Others are silent on the issue. Here's an overview. . . . keep reading

How Reserve Studies Can Keep Your HOA in Compliance and Protect You From Personal Liability
August 14, 2009
Even if your state doesn't mandate that your association do a formal reserve study every so often, it may indirectly--and strongly--suggest that you meet that standard. . . . keep reading

HOA Reserve Studies: What You Need to Know
August 2009
Just what is a reserve study? What should it include, and how often should it be done? We've got answers. . . . keep reading

HOA Facilities: Planning Your Association's Maintenance Program
August 7, 2009
This week's tip is about planning your HOA's maintenance checkup. . . . keep reading

HOA Facilities: How to Think About Maintaining Your Assets--And A Practical HOA Maintenance Checklist
August 2009
Not sure what maintenance your condo or homeowners association property should have and when? We're here to help. Here's some insight on how to view property maintenance, along with a list of the inspections and work your community's assets should have. . . . keep reading

HOA Reserve Funds: The Pros and Cons of Underfunding Reserves
April 2009
Some boards stop funding--or underfund--their homeowners association reserves as a way to easy the burden on homeowners during difficult economic times. Is this a smart move for your HOA? . . . keep reading

HOA Finances: Don't Rely on Special Assessments for Major Repairs If You Can Help It
April 3, 2009
Because many people are hurting financially right now, your homeowners association board might be considering whether or not you should underfund your HOA's reserves. After all, if you ever need to make a major repair, you could make up for a shortfall through a special assessment. No harm. No foul. Right? . . . keep reading

HOA Reserve Investment Philosophies, a Comparative Study
8/15/2008
If your HOA doesn't have a documented reserve investment philosophy, you may find it instructive to review the policies of other community associations. This post provides eight sample policies and describes how you can review dozens more. . . . keep reading

HOA Reserves: Put Your Homeowners Association Reserves to Work--Safely
August 2008
You've managed your homeowner association well, and you're proud to have substantial HOA reserves. Now you'd like to put those reserves to work so that you strengthen your association's financial footing even further. Can you even do that? If so, what investments are appropriate? And what are your duties and risks as an HOA leader? . . . keep reading

Reserve Accounts: New Regulations on Reserve Fund Calculation and Disclosure Mean More Work for HOAs, Less Surprise for Members
April 2008
Recently state governments across the country have created laws that dictate the way reserve funds are calculated and disclosed. Find out what's behind these legislative developments, get up to speed on some of the most significant state laws affecting the management of HOA reserves. . . . keep reading

More Headlines

View past articles »

HOA Finances:
Best Practices for Getting Your Homeowners Association through Difficult Economic Times

Download now »

Free Search for HOA Management Companies

Advertising Information

Communications

Dispute Resolution

Facilities & Maintenance

Financial Matters

HOA Elections

HOA Governance

HOA Insurance

HOA Reserves

HOA Rules

Human Resources

Legal Compliance

Security

HOA Glossary

Complete Topic List

Recent Forum Posts

· Proper Use of Capital Reserve Fund

· Are highrise Texas Condominiums HOA's included

· Reserve Investment on Tax Filing Status

· Foreclosure and bankruptcy....

· COVENANTS COVER WHAT D&O INSURANCE COVERS

· California Arbitration

· New Board Coincides with Fiscal Year?

· Results from NOT following the rules

· Nominating Committe Chair is President of HOA

· election manipulation laws

· Fees for amenity that dues cover?

· Committee Charter Template

· Declarant Resigned from the Association

· Reimburse Volunteers for material purchased

· Board of Directors Meetings

Here's what our readers are saying ...

"Your news and ideas have been a Godsend and so helpful, you can't imagine... Thanks for everything."

Saundra Ragona
Quail Ridge Owners' Association

"We really appreciate your publication. It's as if you had a spy at our meetings and over hear our gripes :). Keep up the good work."

Cynthia Ramnarace
Palmer's Landing HOA

"This is a great service."

Mark R. Benson
CAM, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
Past Chairman of the Florida Community Association Living Study Council
Past Member of the Regulatory Council of Community Association Managers
Past Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Council on Condominiums County Court Mediator

"I am a newly elect President of a small (10 units) HOA / Condo, and I am learning the business almost from scratch ... Thanks for your very valuable information."

Volodymyr (Vlad) Boryshpolov
1102 Avenue X HOA

"Thanks for all your great HOA tips! I am a new Board Secretary—your site is truly worth signing up for!"

Kathie Norris
Whispering Pines West HOA